May. 26, 2017, 11:58 a.m.

Rodney Bingenheimer, the veteran radio DJ and rock-scene insider familiar to several generations of Los Angeles music fans, is ending his long-running show on L.A.'s KROQ-FM (106.7) after more than 40 years.

"Rodney on the ROQ" will air for the final time on June 4 at midnight, Bingenheimer, 69, wrote on Facebook Thursday.

"It has been an amazing run, and I will be thanking all of you when I say goodbye to KROQ next week," he said in the post. "I am planning on some special callers and special music as I say a proper goodbye."

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May. 26, 2017, 11:37 a.m.

Ariana Grande on Friday announced her intention to return to the "incredibly brave city of Manchester" to spend time with fans and play a benefit concert to assist victims of the suicide bomb attack launched after her show in the British city earlier this week.

"I have been thinking of my fans, and of you all, non stop over the past week. The way you have handled all of this has been more inspiring and made me more proud than you'll ever know," the 23-year-old singer said in a statement on social media.

"The compassion, kindness, love, strength and oneness that you've shown one another this past week is the exact opposite of the heinous intentions it must take to pull off something as evil as what happened Monday. YOU are the opposite."

The stars of Warner Bros.' "Wonder Woman" took to the red carpet outside Hollywood's Pantages Theatre Thursday night to celebrate the film's premiere with a unified message.

It just wasn't the message some people might expect.

"I think the world needs all types of superheroes," director Patty Jenkins said when asked why we need Wonder Woman. "What a beautiful message right now because we're in a dark place, and that's the only way we're going to get to the other side, if everyone becomes a hero."

May. 26, 2017, 10:11 a.m.

In what's been called a battle of strategic hookups between exes Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick, Bella Thorne has put up a white flag and flown away.

Disick, 34, and Thorne, 19, were seen Monday at LAX on their way to the Cannes Film Festival, where — surprise! — Kardashian, 38, was already hanging out and getting handsy with Younes Bendjima, a 24-year-old boxer-turned-model. According to E! News, the latter twosome is for real but keeping it light. The Kardashian ex and the actress from "The DUFF"? Perhaps not so much.

May. 26, 2017, 10:04 a.m.

The fatal terrorist incident at an Ariana Grande concert Monday in Manchester, England, continues to resonate throughout the entertainment industry.

Netflix canceled its plans for a London premiere for Season 5 of "Orange Is the New Black" and the pilot for "GLOW," the latest series from "Orange" creator Jenji Kohan.

​"​Following the terrible events in Manchester on Monday night, we have decided to cancel our special screening of 'Orange Is the New Black' and 'GLOW' on Tuesday [May 30]," a Netflix spokesperson told The Times on Friday. "Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this tragedy."

May. 26, 2017, 9:57 a.m.

Former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher will play a hometown concert next week in Manchester, England, to benefit the families of Monday's bombing at the Manchester Arena.

"It's outrageous," the singer told the Manchester Evening News regarding the terrorist attack that killed 22 people following a concert by Ariana Grande. "There are kids and people dying all over the world. And for what?"

He went on to say, "I want to try and help pick people up. People like me, doing what we do, it’s our duty to give people a good time."

May. 26, 2017, 9:43 a.m.

Lest America forget the nation's history of political candidates with body-slamming tendencies, the late-night circuit offered a refresher course Thursday night.

Playing catchup to Wednesday's news that Greg Gianforte, the billionaire Republican candidate in Montana's special congressional election, had allegedly body-slammed a Guardian reporter after the journalist asked him about the Republican healthcare bill, TV hosts weighed in on the matter.

"Think about that," "Late Night" host Seth Meyers said. "The GOP healthcare plan is so bad, Republicans would rather body-slam reporters than answer a question about it.

May. 26, 2017, 7:00 a.m.

I think if people like to dress like a gypsy and they get a little inspiration from me to do it, then it's great. It's definitely something everyone should try at least once in their lives. Dress like a gypsy!

When the original "Star Wars" opened on May 25, 1977, only about 40 theaters across the country initially screened the movie. In Los Angeles, fans packed showings in ways theater managers and moviegoers had never seen. For the 40th anniversary of "Star Wars," we revisit this story examining the earliest stages of the "Star Wars" phenomenon. The Times originally published this story on June 4, 1977.

May. 25, 2017, 1:10 p.m.

Sir Alec Guinness, left as Ben Kenobi listens to director George Lucas on the set of the 1977 blockbuster "Star Wars." (20th Century Fox)

Happy 40th anniversary, "Star Wars"!

Before the first-ever “Star Wars” premiered on screens across America on May 25, 1977, Los Angeles Times writer Paul Rosenfield sat down with the creator of a galaxy far, far away.

Then 33, George Lucas was just a few days shy from the release of his “space opera,” prophetically claiming that “Star Wars” was the movie he thinks “Disney would have made when Walt Disney was alive.” Who knew decades later that the droids and the mouse would reside in the same castle?